ReSight

Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPS) derived photoreceptors represent a promising source of donor cells for the development of a cell replacement therapy for retinal blindness. At the NMI, electrophysiological MEA studies are used in the joint project (CRTD Dresden, Miltenyi Biotec, Fraunhofer IBMT) to explore the potential of donor photoreceptors for the treatment of blind retinas.

In ReSight, the production of photoreceptors and RPE cells is carried out, optimized and photoreceptor-specific reporter lines are generated. In order to optimize photoreceptor and RPE production and transplantation, cell type-specific surface markers are identified and methods for enriching donor cells using GMP-applicable methods are developed. Preclinical mouse models are used to study the structural and functional integration of transplanted hiPS-derived photoreceptors. The functional integration of hiPSC-derived photoreceptors is investigated with electrophysiological microelectrode array recordings at the NMI.